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The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the noncurrent portion of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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-Paragraph 9, 10, 11

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Line-of-Credit Arrangement

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6517033

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- Definition

Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which is directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (that is, noncontrolling interest, previously referred to as minority interest).

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

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-Article 5

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-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 51

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-Appendix A

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-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

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- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, amounts due from parties associated with the reporting entity as evidenced by a written promise to pay.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)

-Number 46R

-Paragraph 16, 17

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. This element is for unclassified presentations; for classified presentations there is a separate and distinct element.

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-Publisher AICPA

-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)

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-Paragraph 80

-Subparagraph Exhibit 4-8, 3

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-Publisher FASB

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of Notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer), excluding current portion. Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders.

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- Definition

Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which are attributable to the parent. The amount of the economic entity's stockholders' equity attributable to the parent excludes the amount of stockholders' equity which is allocable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (noncontrolling interest, minority interest). This excludes temporary equity and is sometimes called permanent equity.

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-Publisher FASB

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-Section E

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- Definition

Fixed rate long term debt.

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- Definition

Promissory note.

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- Definition

Term loan.

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Financial instruments and fair value measurements - Financial Instruments not Carried at Fair Value (Detail) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2011 EUR (€)	Sep. 30, 2012 Kronos [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Kronos [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 CompX [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 CompX [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 NL Industries Inc [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 NL Industries Inc [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Fair value [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Fair value [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Fair value [Member] Kronos International [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Fair value [Member] Kronos [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Fair value [Member] Kronos [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Fair value [Member] WCS [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Fair value [Member] WCS [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Fair value [Member] CompX [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Fair value [Member] CompX [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Fair value [Member] NL Industries Inc [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Fair value [Member] NL Industries Inc [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Carrying amount [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Carrying amount [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Carrying amount [Member] Kronos International [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Carrying amount [Member] Kronos [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Carrying amount [Member] Kronos [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Carrying amount [Member] WCS [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Carrying amount [Member] WCS [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Carrying amount [Member] CompX [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Carrying amount [Member] CompX [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Carrying amount [Member] NL Industries Inc [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Carrying amount [Member] NL Industries Inc [Member] USD ($)
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash equivalents										$ 141.8	$ 109.3										$ 141.8	$ 109.3
Promissory note						20.5	22.2	5.1	9.0								20.5	22.2	5.1	9.0								20.5	22.2	5.1	9.0
Note receivable from Contran										11.2	11.2										11.2	11.2
Publicly-traded fixed rate debt - KII Senior Secured Notes			400.0									362.6											360.6
Term loan													400.4											389.3
Fixed rate loans										250.0	250.0				82.1	82.8					250.0	250.0				82.1	82.8
Variable rate bank credit facilities						2.0	2.0						45.2				2.0	2.0						45.2				2.0	2.0
Noncontrolling interest	367.5	335.8		277.5	240.2	11.4	11.0	78.6	84.6				339.1	409.4			24.8	23.9	95.1	107.3				277.5	240.2			11.4	11.0	78.6	84.6
Valhi stockholders' equity	$ 775.6	$ 657.2								$ 4,137.2	$ 6,835.3										$ 775.6	$ 657.2